Railway coupler

ABSTRACT

A conventional Association of American Railroads (AAR)-type F coupler head is rotatable engaged with a railway car and has a rotor engaged with the coupler&#39;&#39;s unlocking mechanism. A rotor arm is secured to the rotor for corresponding rotational movement outboard from one of the rotary shaft walls of the coupler head and projects downwardly away from the bottom of the coupler head. The rotor arm may be pivoted upwardly, rotating the rotor and unlocking the lock of the unlocking mechanism, by a U-shaped member pivotally secured to the railway car. The lockhole walls of the coupler head are modified to allow pivotal movement of the U-shaped member.

United States Patent t [MG 1,148,049 7/1915 Regan 213/167 [72] j'b 1,986,440 1/1935 Kinne 213/169 21 Appl. N0. 784,126 2,217,722 /1940 Bazeley 213/167 [22] Fil d Dec. 16,1968 3,075,650 1/1963 Greenawalt 213/133 Palmed 30,1971 Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Asslgnee Amsted lndusmes, Inwrpomted Attorneys-Walter L. Schlegel, Jr. and John W. Yakimow Chicago, Ill.

[54] RAILWAY COUPLER ABSTRACT: A conventional Association of American Rail- 10 Clams 10 Drawmg roads-(AAR) type F coupler head is rotatable engaged with a [52] US. Cl 213/166, railway car and has a rotor engaged with the couplers un- 213/133 locking mechanism. A rotor arm is secured to the rotor for [51] Int. Cl B6lg l/08, corresponding rotational movement outboard from one of the B6lg 3/20 rotary shaft walls of the coupler head and projects Field of Search 213/ 133, downwardly away from the bottom of the coupler head. The

219, 166- l (lnquired) rotor arm may be pivoted upwardly, rotating the rotor and unlocking the lock of the unlocking mechanism, by a U-shaped References Cited member pivotally secured to the railway car. The lockhole UNITED STATES PATENTS walls of the coupler head are modified to allow pivotal move- 1,148,021 7/1915 K6150 213/167 mem Ofthe p member- 36 22 2O 2O 22 2a 1 f K I A 3 "1 Y 1 32 30 KM 1 I as 2 ll E5 26 I. 26 68 -1.:E Taniar1;-

Patente amh 3, KW 3,572,518

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LEE GIL WISLEB AT T'Y S RAILWAY COUPLER This invention relates to railway car couplers, particularly, bottom operating couplers.

Conventional rotary dump railway cars generally have a coupler adapted to rotate 180 relative to the car at one end and a nonrotating coupler at the other. Operating rods to actuate the unlocking mechanisms of the couplers are usually only connected to the nonrotating couplers. This arrangement is satisfactory as long as a rotary coupler of one car is connected to a nonrotary coupler of the next car. If two rotary couplers are connected together the cars are difficult to uncouple. If two nonrotary couplers are connected together, rotation of one car relative to the other car damages one or both couplers. For this reason it is desirable to provide rotary couplers having means to actuate the unlocking mechanism on both ends of a rotary dump car. Standard Association of American Railroads (AAR) coupler heads and corresponding unlocking mechanisms may be modified for such rotary use.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a modified coupler head for a rotary dump railway car that may be unlocked by a separate operating rod arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an unlocking mechanism for a bottom operating rotary railway coupler that cannot be actuated by end or vertical shock.

A further object of the invention is to provide a modified AAR-type F coupler head that may be simply and easily used on rotary dump railway cars.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a rotor arrangement for a bottom operating railway coupler.

The invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof, wherein:

FIG. I is a top plan view illustrating an independent operating rod arrangement and a bottom operating coupler embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view illustrating a rotor for a coupler unlocking mechanism embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a rotor arm for a coupler unlocking mechanism embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the knuckle side of an AAR-type F coupler head embodying features of the invention; and

FIG. It]? is a fragmentary side elevational view of the guard arm side of an AAR-type F coupler embodying features of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of the invention, FIG. I illustrates a rotary dump car 12 having a pivotal operating lever 14 to actuate a bottom operating rotary coupler I6 mounted for rotational movement relative to the car. The operating lever 14 is shown comprising a generally U-shaped member I8 having end portions 20 journaled in bearings 22 secured to car 12 on opposite sides of coupler 16. An engaging member 24 interconnects the side sections 26 of the U-shaped member 18.

An operating rod 28 is joumaled adjacent its outboard end in a bearing bracket 30' secured to car 12. The outer end of rod 26 may extend downwardly to provide a handle 32. The inboard portion of rod 28 extends upwardly at 34 and terrninates at an eye portion 36 that is rotatably engaged with an end portion 26. A side section 26 may also be connected to rod 2% by means of a U-shaped member 36 secured to rod 28.

As shown in FIGS. I and 2 upward movement of handle 32 away from car I2 rotates rod 28 thereby pivoting U-shaped member I8. As U-shaped member 18 pivots, engaging member 24 moves upwardly in an arclike motion, pivoting at bearings 22, against rotor arm 40 of unlocking mechanism 42 of coupler 16. The head 44 of coupler 16 in FIGS. 2 and 3 is illustrated as an AAR-type F and includes a knuckle 46. A leg 48 of .a lock of unlocking mechanism 42 extends downwardly into a cavity 50 of the lower forward portion of coupler head 44. The leg 46 is moved upward by a trunnion 52 on a known toggle 54 which is pivotally connected at 56 to a known rotor lever 56. The rotor lever 56 has a hook-shaped jaw end 60 having a slot 62 therein that is in mating engagement with a radial projection 64 on a rotor 66.

As illustrated in FIG. I, the rotor 66 may be rotatably engaged at its ends 66, 69 (FIGS. 4 and 5) in rotary shaft holes 70 and 72 (FIGS. 9 and 10) located in spaced rotary shaft walls 74 and 76 in the lower portion of coupler head 44. Clockwise rotation of rotor 66 in FIG. 3 rotates radial projection 64 and rotor lever 58 upwardly thereby forcing toggle 54 upwardly to unlatch lock, fragmentarily shown at 48, and open knuckle 46 in a known manner.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, rotor arm 40 includes a counterweight head portion 78 located above a locking opening 60 in a center boss section 82. A lower tail portion M extends away from the center boss 82.

The rotor 66 (FIGS. 3-6) includes an axial extension 86 in the form of a circular section having two flat surfaces 83 and 90 at right angles. The axial extension 66 and locking opening 60 are designed for mating engagement for corresponding rotational movement between rotor arm 40 and rotor 66. A bolt 92 (FIG 2) projecting through the axial extension 86 and rotor arm 40 and a nut 94 may secure the two parts 40, 66 together. The radial projection 64 has a width slightly smaller than the distance between the inner surfaces of the spaced rotary shaft walls 74 and 76 (FIG. I).

In a preferred embodiment, the rotary shaft hole 72 in the rotary shaft wall 76 on the guard arm side of coupler 16 (FIG. 10) has a rotary shaft keyway 96 slightly larger than radial projection 64. The rotor 66 may be inserted in coupler head 44 through hole 72 and keyway 96. The axial extension 86 may project through rotary shaft hole 76 in rotary shaft wall 74. Rotor arm 40 may then be secured to axial extension 66 outwardly from wall 74 as shown in FIG. 2.

The center of gravity 9% of counterweight head portion 76 of rotor arm 40 is forward, i.e., toward the knuckle 46, of the axis of rotation of rotor 66 in an assembled locked position (solid lines in FIG. 2) while the center of gravity 160 of lower tail portion 84 of rotor arm 40 is rearward of the axis of rotation of rotor 66. The relative locations of the centers of gravity 98, I00 tend to rotate rotor arm clockwise in FIG. 2 to maintain unlocking mechanism 42 in a lock condition. Vertical and longitudinal shocks incurred in coupling also tend to rotate rotor arm 40 toward the lock condition. In a preferred embodiment, the downward and horizontal moments created by center of gravity 98 will be equal to or greater than the downward and horizontal moments created by center of gravity lltlll in the locked position (solid lines in FIG. 2). The downward moment created by center of gravity 100 will be greater than the downward moment created by center of gravity 98 in the unlocked position (phantom lines in FIG. 2).

In unlocking the knuckle 46 (FIGS. I and 2) engaging member 24 is swung upwardly in an arclike motion as previously described. The member 24 contacts tail portion 64 of rotor arm 46 forcing it upward in FIG. 2 thereby rotating rotor 66 and unlocking the knuckle 46 as previously described. The rotary shaft keyway 96 is preferably in the rotary shaft wall 76 that is farthest from rotor arm 40. Movement of rotor arm 46 forces end 66 of rotor 66 nearest the rotor arm 40 upwardly and end 69 farthest from the rotor arm 46 downwardly. Location of rotary shaft keyway 96 proximate rotor arm 46 in rotary shaft wall 74 would result in unwanted wear and movement during upward movement of end 66 of rotor 66. In standard AAR dimensioned-type F coupler heads, rotary shaft keyway 96 appears in rotary shaft wall 74. In this respect, the coupler head 44' would be modified by cutting a rotary shaft keyway 96 in rotary shaft wall 76 and enclosing the keyway in rotary shaft wall 74.

In unlocking, rotor arm 40 and rotor 66 must be rotated about 90 thereby requiring a modification in the standard AAR-type F coupler head contour for movement of engaging member 24 (FIG. 2). The dashed line 102 in FIGS. 2, 9 and illustrate part of the standard AAR dimensioned-type F approved coupler head contour that may be changed. By modifying the contour of lock hole wall 104, on the knuckle side of coupler head 44, the strength of the coupler head 44 is maintained while clearance is provided for engaging member 24 (FIG. 2). The bottom most surface 106 of lockhole wall 104 is blended into a vertical ending surface 108 that is perpendicular thereto by means of a radial surface 109 defined by the outer point of about a 2 inch radius. The vertical ending sur face 108 may be about 6% inches from the rearward facing surfaces 110 of the rotary shaft walls 74, 76 and may be blended by a surface 111 defined by the outer point of about a one-half of an inch radius into a lower surface 112 that is perpendicular to the vertical surface 108 and extends forward away from rotary shaft wall 74. A radial blending surface 114 defined by the outer point of about a 2 inch radius struck from a point about 5% inches from the rearward facing surfaces 110 of walls 74, 76 may contact lower surface 112. The outer point of about a three-eighths of an inch radius may be used to blend surface 114 into the standard AAR dimensioned surface 116 of lockhole wall 104.

On the guard arm side of coupler head 44, the triangular surface 118 of lockhole wall 120 may be removed. A substantially horizontal surface 122 may extend forward from rotary shaft wall 76 for a distance of about 6% inches from the rearward facing surfaces 110. The horizontal surface 122 may then be blended into a substantially vertical surface 124 by a blending surface 126 defined by the outer point of about a one-half of an inch radius. As seen in FIG. 10, surfaces 124 and 108 and surfaces 112 and 122 may lie in the same plane.

The projection located by the three-eighths of an inch radius is for the purpose of maintaining the locked position identification. When the telltale hole 128 located in lever 58 (FIG. 3) projects below surface 116, the coupler is fully locked. If the telltale hole is partially or totally hidden, the coupler is not fully locked.

It should be noted, that although only an AAR-type F coupler head is modified in detail, similar changes may also be made to other AAR-type couplers, e.g., AAR-type E coupler heads.

Iclaim:

l. A bottom operating coupler for a railway car comprising: a coupler head having a forward knuckle end and a knuckle unlocking mechanism; a rotor engaged with said unlocking mechanism; means supporting said rotor on said coupler head for rotational movement about an axis from an inactive position to a position to unlock the unlocking mechanism; a rotor arm secured to said rotor for corresponding rotational movement, said rotor arm including a lower tail portion projecting downwardly from said coupler head when said rotor is in said inactive position; and engaging means secured to said railway car and movable from a position distal from said lower tail portion of said rotor arm into contact with said lower tail portion of said rotor arm to rotate said rotor from said inactive position to said position to unlock the unlocking mechanism.

2. The coupler set out in claim 1 including a counterweight head portion on said rotor arm having a center of gravity upward and forward of said axis when said rotor is in said inactive position.

3. The coupler set out in claim 2 wherein: said lower tail portion has a center of gravity downward and rearward of said axis when said rotor is in said inactive position; and the horizontal moment created by the center of gravity of said counter weight head portion about said axis is at least as great as the horizontal moment created by the center of gravity of said lower tail portion about said axis when said rotor is in said inactive position.

4. The coupler set out in claim 2 wherein: said lower tail portion has a center of gravity downward and rearward of said axis when said rotor IS in said inactive position; and the downward moment created by the center of gravity of said counterweight head portion about said axis is at least as great as the downward moment created by the center of gravity of said lower tail portion about said axis when said rotor is in said inactive position.

5. The coupler set out in claim 4 wherein the downward moment created by the center of gravity of said lower tail portion about said axis is greater than the downward moment created by the center of gravity of said counterweight head portion about said axis when said rotor is in said position to unlock said unlocking mechanism.

6. A railway coupler comprising: a coupler head having a forward knuckle end, a knuckle side and a guard arm side; an unlocking mechanism in said coupler head for opening said knuckle; a pair of spaced rotary shaft walls secured to said coupler head; a lockhole wall on said guard ami side connected to one of said rotary shaft walls and projecting forward therefrom, said guard arm side lockhole wall having a substantially horizontal bottom surface; a lockhole wall on said knuckle side connected to the other rotary shaft wall and projecting forward therefrom, said knuckle side lock hole wall having a substantially horizontal bottom surface; a rotor engaged with said unlocking mechanism; means supporting said rotor on said rotary shaft walls for rotational movement about an axis from an inactive position to a position for actuating said unlocking mechanism; and a rotor arm secured to said rotor having a lower tail portion projecting downward away from said substantially horizontal surfaces when said rotor is in said inactive position.

7. The coupler set out in claim 6 wherein said rotor arm is secured to said rotor outward from one of said spaced rotary shaft walls.

8. The coupler set out in claim 6 wherein: one of said rotary shaft walls has a substantially circular rotary shaft hole therein; the other of said rotary shaft walls has a rotary shaft hole that has a substantially circular portion and a rotary shaft keyway projecting upward away from said substantially circular portion; said rotor is rotatably engaged in said rotary shaft holes and has an axial extension projecting outwardly through said substantially circular rotary shaft hole; and said rotor arm is secured to said axial extension of said rotor for corresponding rotational movement.

9. The coupler set out in claim 6 wherein: said coupler head is engaged with a railway car; said rotor is rotated forward to said position for actuating said unlocking mechanism; and engaging means is secured to said railway car to move said lower tail portion of said rotor arm to rotate said rotor from said inactive position to said actuating position.

10. The coupler set out in claim 6 wherein said unlocking mechanism includes a rotor lever having a telltale hole located therein and wherein one of said substantially horizontal surfaces on one of said lockhole walls has a projection extending downwardly therefrom, said telltale hole being located below said projection when said unlocking mechanism is locked and being hidden by said projection when said unlocking mechanism is unlocked. 

1. A bottom operating coupler for a railway car comprising: a coupler head having a forward knuckle end and a knuckle unlocking mechanism; a rotor engaged with said unlocking mechanism; means supporting said rotor on said coupler head for rotational movement about an axis from an inactive position to a position to unlock the unlocking mechanism; a rotor arm secured to said rotor for corresponding rotational movement, said rotor arm including a lower tail portion projecting downwardly from said coupler head when said rotor is in said inactive position; and engaging means secured to said railway car and movable from a position distal from said lower tail portion of said rotor arm into contact with said lower tail portion of said rotor arm to rotate said rotor from said inactive position to said position to unlock the unlocking mechanism.
 2. The coupler set out in claim 1 including a counterweight head portion on said rotor arm having a center of gravity upward and forward of said axis when said rotor is in said inactive position.
 3. The coupler set out in claim 2 wherein: said lower tail portion has a center of gravity downward and rearward of said axis when said rotor is in said inactive position; and the horizontal moment created by the center of gravity of said counter weight head portion about said axis is at least as great as the horizontal moment created by the center of gravity of said lower tail portion about said axis when said rotor is in said inactive position.
 4. The coupler set out in claim 2 wherein: said lower tail portion has a center of gravity downward and rearward of said axis when said rotor is in said inactive position; and the downward moment created by the center of gravity of said counterweight head portion about said axis is at least as great as the downward moment created by the center of gravity of said lower tail portion about said axis when said rotor is in said inactive position.
 5. The coupler set out in claim 4 wherein the downward moment created by the center of gravity of said lower tail portion about said axis is greater than the downward moment created by the center of gravity of said counterweight head portion about said axis when said rotor is in said position to unlock said unlocking mechanism.
 6. A railway coupler comprising: a coupler head having a forward knuckle end, a knuckle side and a guard arm side; an unlocking mechanism in said coupler head for opening said knuckle; a pair of spaced rotary shaft walls secured to said coupler head; a lockhole wall on said guard arm side connected to one of said rotary shaft walls and projecting forward therefrom, said guard arm side lockhole wall having a substantially horizontal bottom surface; a lockhole wall on said knuckle side connected to the other rotary shaft wall and projecting forward therefrom, said knuckle side lock hole wall having a substantially horizontal bottom surface; a rotor engaged with said unlocking mechanism; means supporting said rotor on said rotary shaft walls for rotational movement about an axis from an inactive position to a position for actuating said unlocking mechanism; and a rotor arm secured to said rotor having a lower tail portion projecting downward away from said substantially horizontal surfaces when said rotor is in said inactive position.
 7. The coupler set out in claim 6 wherein said rotor arm is secured to said rotor outward from one of said spaced rotary shaft walls.
 8. The coupler set out in claim 6 wherein: one of said rotary shaft walls has a substantially circular rotary shaft hole therein; the other of said rotary shaft walls has a rotary shaft hole that has a substantially circular portion and a rotary shaft keyway projecting upward away from said substantially circular portion; said rotor is rotatably engaged in said rotary shaft holes and has an axial extension projecting outwardly through said substantially circular rotary shaft hole; and said rotor arm is secured to said axial extension of said rotor for corresponding rotational movement.
 9. The coupler set out in claim 6 wherein: said coupler head is engaged with a railway car; said rotor is rotated forward to said position for actuating said unlocking mechanism; and engaging means is secured to said railway car to move said lower tail portion of said rotor arm to rotate said rotor from said inactive position to said actuating position.
 10. The coupler set out in claim 6 wherein said unlocking mechanism includes a rotor lever having a telltale hole located therein and wherein one of said substantially horizontal surfaces on one of said lockhole walls has a projection extending downwardly therefrom, said telltale hole being located below said projection when said unlocking mechanism is locked and being hidden by said projection when said unlocking mechanism is unlocked. 